Leadership and Impact: Applying Design Thinking to Real-World Challenges
Harvard Summer School
MGMT S-542
Section 1
CRN 35884
In this course, students identify their core values, explore how to align them with daily actions, and apply the framework of design thinking to lead to meaningful change. They develop the skills to navigate ambiguity and complexity in problem-solving, learning how to create impact even in uncertain environments. Through hands-on projects, students master strategies to tackle challenges in a rapidly evolving world, including those driven by emerging technologies like generative artificial intelligence (AI). This course challenges students to move beyond the traditional school progression mindset and make an immediate impact on their communities by solving real-world problems that violate their core values. By focusing on core values and emotional intelligence, students learn that leadership is not dependent on titles alone, but on the ability to guide teams through ambiguity and complexity with empathy and collaboration. This action-oriented approach, when combined with appropriate skills and experience, empowers students to leverage the opportunities and navigate the challenges that generative AI brings. Even as job markets evolve, human-centered problem solving always remains a valuable and essential skill.
Registration Closes: June 17, 2025
Credits: 4
View Tuition Information Term
Summer Term 2025
Part of Term
4-week session
Format
On Campus
Credit Status
Noncredit, Undergraduate
Section Status
Full